Prospective comparison of transient elastography and liver biopsy for the assessment of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C infection

Abstract

HCV is a worldwide problem and the need to assess the degree of fibrosis is the corner stone in its treatment. Liver biopsy has been used for years to assess the degree of fibrosis and activity but recently many non-invasive methods have emerged to replace it as aspartate transaminase/platelet ratio [APRI), abdominal ultrasonography measuring caudate/right lobe ratio and hepatic stiffness [Fibroscan). Purpose: Correlate the accuracy of Transient Elastography [Fibroscan) in comparison to liver biopsy as a non-invasive method for fibrosis assessment in chronic hepatitis C patients. Methods: The study was done on 50 patients with chronic HCV [32 males and 18 females) for which liver biopsy and fibroscan were performed. Results: There was positive correlation of liver biopsy with fibroscan score, there was moderate agreement [matching) between liver biopsy and fibroscan the lowest matching were in F0 and the highest were in F3. Conclusion: Fibroscan has a good matching with liver biopsy in the detection of hepatic fibrosis and follow up of its progression.

Keywords

• Transient elastography
• Biopsy
• Hepatic fibrosis